Law and Order in Sung China [Paperback]

This work is the first comprehensive study of law enforcement in traditional China.This work is the first comprehensive study of law enforcement in traditional China. The depth and rigour to which the subject is treated makes it invaluable in the study of Chinese society or law and order.This work is the first comprehensive study of law enforcement in traditional China. The depth and rigour to which the subject is treated makes it invaluable in the study of Chinese society or law and order.This study examines law enforcement within the context of Sung society. Professor McKnight shows that the group of criminals who were the core of the habitual criminal group in Sung China were young unattached males with few lifeskills. What became of the criminal after capture and conviction is also an important aspect of this study, which addresses basic questions in Chinese punishment. This work is the first comprehensive study of law enforcement in traditional China. The depth and rigour to which the subject is treated would make it most appropriate for scholars in legal history and East Asian studies.List of figures, maps and tables; Preface; List of abbreviations; 1. Introduction; 2. The historical context; 3. Crimes and criminals; 4. Informal and semiformal agencies of law enforcement; 5. Formal civil agencies of law enforcement; 6. The role of the military in law enforcement; 7. Supervision of law enforcement - the role of the intendants; 8. Personnel selection; 9. Urban crime and urban security; 10. The Sung penal system; 11. Jails and jailers in the Sung; 12. Penal registration; 13. The death penalty; 14. Modifications of penalties; 15. Conclusion; Glossary; Bibliography; Index.